In the cultural mixing pot that is Hong Kong, there are new exciting dining and drinking concepts popping up all the time, from innovative fine dining and internationally known restaurants coming to the city for the first time to locally-born exploratory fusion. Stay on top of the need-to-knows of the dining scene with our restaurant and bar opening guide.
WOW Burger
Burger lovers with dietary restrictions or who don’t opt for animal products, listen up! WOW Burger is the newest 100% vegetarian fast food concept in Hong Kong. With dairy-free shakes (HK$45) and guilt-free patties that offer high nutritional value of over 20 grams of plant protein per burger (from HK$68), they’re looking to revolutionise fast food by making eating sustainably more accessible.
Shop 9A, L/G, BaseHall 01, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central | +852 9408 0677
The Savory Project
The duo behind the No. 1 bar on Asia’s 50 Best Bars two years in a row, COA, have just opened their second bar concept with a focus on savoury cocktails on June 1. Jay Khan and co-founder Ajit Gurung (who heads operations at COA) found incredible success with their agave-forward Mexican cocktail bar and now venture on a mission to present drinks with umami flavour profiles at the exclusively walk-in venue on Staunton Street.
4 Staunton Street, Soho, Central | +852 2318 1588
Kaen Teppanyaki
Meaning ‘blaze’ in Japanese, Kaen Teppanyaki is a Japanese steakhouse part of the group of dining concepts, Forty-Five, located on the 45th floor of Landmark. Completely traceable wagyu, along with seasonal seafood and vegetables, are prepared using teppanyaki and Binchotan (cooking over odourless and smokeless white charcoal) techniques. The lunch sets start at HK$480 while the dinner tasting menus start at HK$1,680 for eight courses of seafood teppanyaki.
45/F, Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central | +852 2155 9191
Cafe Joo
Contemporary Korean restaurant, Cafe Joo, is led by Chef Ken Lau who has reinterpreted Korean flavours into a menu of Korean snacks, as well as fusion mains like Jeju stir-fried octopus squid ink spaghetti (HK$158) and Angus beef galbi (HK$238). With an interior recalling the minimalistic café aesthetic of Seoul coffee shops, the café spirit comes through in the delightful desserts and coffees.
Shop 165, Level 1, Phase 1, New Town Plaza, 18 Sha Tin Centre St, Sha Tin | +852 2882 8323
Niras
Niras is the highly anticipated sibling of Le Du, the Bangkok dinery that crowned the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023. Chef-owner Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn is launching the modern Thai restaurant in K11 MUSEA, offering some of the same dishes from Michelin-starred Le Du as well as original dishes made from seasonal Thai ingredients. Pre-booking is available for reservations from late June on.
Shop 704, 7/F, K11 MUSEA, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
BRKLYN Pizza Co.
Just hard launched at the end of May is BRKLYN Pizza Co., a New York pizza experience with outdoor seating in a cosy laneway off Graham Street. Enjoy pizza, pasta, tipples, Italian coffee, and draught beer in a pet-friendly setting! Right now, they’re offering an opening promotion where you can receive complimentary garlic knots or a glass of bubbles when you follow their Instagram page.
No. 5 Tsun Wing Ln, Central | +852 5686 8852
Sukiyaki Isekuma
Sukiyaki specialist Sukiyaki Isekuma has opened its doors in Tsim Sha Tsui. The heart-comforting dish of A4 Wagyu and Olive-gyu beef and seasonal Japanese vagetables slowly simmered in a delicate umami broth takes centre-stage in the five-course lunch or omakase dinner. The restaurant is occupied by a feature chef’s counter and minimalistic secluded booths.
Shop G13, Harbour Pinnacle, 8 Minden Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2109 1155
Vista Bar
Vista from Aqua Restaurant Group opened on the coveted 29th and 30th floor of One Peking Road in November. The Italian restaurant’s new bar space, a collaboration with Campari, opened on Valentine’s Day in the restaurant’s penthouse, which offers quite literally unmatched, unhindered views of the harbour. Besides their strong list of house spirit and wine labels, you should really take something from the ‘Eight Shades of Red’ cocktails with Campari bases. In the late night, Vista Bar’s resident DJs make appearances.
30/F, One Peking Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2778 3255
CARVER
A brand new modern steakhouse opening at Crowne Plaza Causeway Bay, Carver selects the finest cuts of meat from ranches in the US, Australia, and Japan and gives them proper dry-age treatment in the 13 foot high, in-house dry-aging cabinet. The elegant 2,000 sq.ft space is the foundation for diving into world-class beef steaks, seafood, and sommelier-led wine pairings, housing a marble-clad cocktail bar.
1/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong, 8 Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay | +852 5978 5971
Eggslut
LA-founded Eggslut started with the idea that eggs can remain a comfort food without falling into the oblivion of lack of innovation. Set to open in June, the ‘gourmet fast food’ chain will be bringing its infamously fluffy egg sandwiches to Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay. It’ll be the American chain’s seventh outlet in Asia, with locations already in Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul.
Shop 11-19, Fashion Walk, Great George St, Causeway Bay
Kontrasto
Chef Fabiano Palombini has spent 35 years in fine dining restaurant kitchens honing his vision for his first owner-chef venture: new upscale Italian restaurant, Kontrasto. Esperanto for ‘contrast’, the restaurant’s offering will centre around seasonal dishes inspired by the chef’s upbringing in the agricultural Italian town of Teramo. Wine pairing programs are also an essential feature, with a 260-strong list of wines.
G/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1-13 Hollywood Rd, Central | +852 9685 5922
Transformers: The Ark
After a year of provoking curiosity behind its veil in Causeway Bay, Transformers: The Ark has opened as the first restaurant in the world to centre around the popular Transformers franchise. With two levels of dining space modelled to look like the interior of the Autobots’ spaceship, The Ark, visit the ground level shop for official Transformers merchandise or chow down on burgers stamped with Optimus Prime’s face!
Shop A & B, G/F & 1/F, 38 Russell St, Causeway Bay
Jello & Mellow
Bringing a brand new family-friendly play-slash-café concept to Hong Kong is Jello & Mellow, a space where children can explore the adventure playground and enjoy wholesome, delicious dishes and snacks. Adults, on the other hand, can enjoy tipples, teas, coffees, and milkshakes in the serene space decorated with Nordic aesthetics. A multifunctional space catering to families and working parents in Quarry Bay, Jello & Mellow is founded by Vivien Lau, the same entrepreneur and cake designer behind Vive Cake Boutique.
9/F, 1001 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay | hello@jelloandmellow.hk
Sumac
Sumac’s long-awaited return has arrived, bringing its much-loved authentic Lebanese flavours with Mediterranean flourishes in tow with a nearly unrecognisable interior. Highlighting classical design elements found throughout Lebanon, the indoor space is split into a refined dining room and separate sexy cocktail bar furbished with leather lounging booths, while the outdoor shisha area has also been refreshed.
8 – 9 Glenealy, Central | +852 9594 1173
Voynich
For a yum cha experience with all the familiar tastes but refined visuals and exceptional service, visit the new Voynich at Harbour City. With classic dim sum, seafood, and hot pot, there’s something to satisfy the whole group. Following through on its commitment to executing traditional Chinese dishes with clean ingredients, all dishes are MSG-free.
Shop 401, L4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui | +852 2688 2408
Cafe Bau
Cafe Bau is looking to redefine Western fine dining through its almost exclusive use of locally produced ingredients. Burrata salad drizzled with Pat Chun vinaigrette, broiled whole fish flavoured with lotus root, organic Yi O rice farmed in Lantau Island – all the dishes are inspired by Western cuisine but take a farm-to-table approach using Hong Kong-made foodstuffs. The kitchen is led by none other than Michelin-awarded, Hong Kong-Canadian Chef Alvin Leung.
Shop 8, Podium 1/F, J Residence, 60 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai | +852 9737 0881
The Merchants
Under the name Forty-Five, five brand new experiential and dining concepts will open on the 45th floor of LANDMARK from April to the summer (including a new French fine dining restaurant from the most decorated female chef in the world, Anne-Sophie Pic; a teppanyaki restaurant; and a private members’ art club). One such concept is The Merchants opened in late March, Shanghainese dining reinterpreted with modern flair will be enjoyed in an elegant space that showcases Shanghai’s art deco period, with custom-made cherrywood banquettes and embroidered wallpaper handcrafted by artisans in WuXi.
45/F, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Rd Central
Cardinal Point
Another concept opening at Forty-Five, Cardinal Point is setting itself up to become the definitive destination for happy hour in Hong Kong. The rooftop venue, complete with a restaurant, lounge, and Sky Terrace, offers sweeping views of the skyline and a drinks program inspired by travel. The indoor and outdoor bar is presided over by a resident DJ. Cardinal Point will begin welcoming guests in early to mid-April.
45/F, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Rd Central
Bistro Hoi An
Bistro Hoi An is the newest casual lunch spot to hit Tuen Mun’s Gold Coast Piazza. The chefs travelled to Vietnam seeking inspiration for their menu, presenting three house-made fish sauces and traditional dishes from around Vietnam that diners may not have tried before, like the Sauteed Frog Leg. Familiar favourites are still here to comfort the uninitiated, with succulent plates like the Hoi An Suckling Pig and Shaken Beef & Bone Marrow. Pair all these with a signature cocktail – we recommend the Blossom (HK$78), gin with elderflower liqueur, apple juice, lemon, and bitters.
Shop 1A, Gold Coast Piazza, 1 Castle Peak Rd, Tuen Mun | +852 3421 0060
El Bar by La Paloma
El Bar in La Paloma has reopened with a facelift, quenching the thirsts of cocktail aficionados with its Barcelona beachside-inspired tipples. The drinks program is curated to perfection, with Spanish wines, cavas, Vermouths from Espinaler, gin and tonics, and tapas and bar snacks to share. Inuldge in a selection of spieced wines during the newly introduced Vermouth Hour.
1/F, 189 Queen’s Rd West, Sai Ying Pun | +852 +852 2291 6161
Header image credits: Schnitzel & Schnaps
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